If you can't be a pine on the top of the hill,

　　Be a scrub in the valley---but be

　　The best little scrub by the side of the rill;

　　Be a bush if you can't be a tree.

　　If you can't be a bush be a bit of grass--

　　And some highway happier make.

　　If you can't be a muskie then just be a bass--

　　But the liveliest bass in the lake!

　　We can't all be captains, we've got to be crew,

　　There's something for all of us here,

　　There's big work to do, and there's lesser to do,

　　And the task you must do is the near.

　　If you can't be a highway then just be a trail,

　　If you can't be the sun be a star;

　　It isn't by size that you win or you fail--

　　Be the best of whatever you are!

　　翻译：

　　如果你当不成山巅的一棵劲松，

　　就做山谷里的小树吧---但务必

　　做溪流边最棒的一棵小树;

　　当不了树就做一丛灌木，

　　当不成灌木还可以做小草--但务必

　　做路边最快乐的一株小草。

　　如果你不是大梭鱼就做一尾鲈鱼吧，

　　但要做湖里最活泼的小鲈鱼!

　　我们不能都做船长,必须有人当船员，

　　可每个人都有自己的事儿，

　　有的事情大，有的事情小，

　　而你要完成的任务就近在咫尺。

　　如果你不能做大道就做一条小径，

　　若是不能做太阳就做星星;

　　决定成败的不是你的大小--

　　只要你做的自己!